Clever.. very clever. If any state employee refused federal requests for these addresses, they would be harboring fugitives. Thank you @GovWhitmer for helping us root out the illegal population that is bankrupting us!

“It is a tough issue,” Switch spokesman Roger Martin said. “There’s no question about it. We’re talking about introducing an entirely new industry to Michigan, something that is the future of this country and of this world. It’s a good, vigorous debate.”

Rick Baker, CEO of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, said the tax breaks will help create a new industry for the state.
“This is not an industry that was top of mind for us as an opportunity. We did not have a policy in place,” he said.

Representative Jeff Farrington, R-Utica, chairs the House Tax Policy Committee. He says the bills set the stage to attract a new, modern industry to the state.
“We have a digital economy. We have a service-based economy, and our tax code is really one that’s set up for products from the 1930s and 40s. So trying to update it to be competitive with the other states.”

However the real issue with Switch’s SuperNAP Michigan is still the huge electrical load this center will place on the grid. Not shown in any of the PR images of the proposed data center. Don’t believe us? Read what Site Selection magazine has to say about data center siting issues:

By one measure, power is the most important factor. Fifty percent of respondents in the latest (Spring 2011) Jones Lang LaSalle Data Centre Barometer, issued by the firm’s London-based Data Centre Advisory Group, rank availability of power as the most important factor in choosing a new data center, followed by location and efficiency of the center

The Michigan House tax breaks have now been extended to all 28+ third party data centers in Michigan, but not to the multitude of captive data centers operated by tax paying Michigan companies. Same activity, same type of employees hired, but no tax breaks. Evidently not all data centers are equal in the eyes of the Michigan House.

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11 comments for “Lie of the Month: “We’re talking about introducing an entirely new industry to Michigan””

Sue Schwartz

December 3, 2015 at 2:36 pm

While being held as a captive audience in Lansing, a train of RINO's were telling us how a monopoly on electricity is good for the economy. Not one stated how necessary this monopoly is to all the super nap tax breakers; nor did they state that without this monopoly would "we" be able to support these super napper tax breakers. Recall was filed on one senator for his vote on the gas tax yesterday. You folks need to get started on your own super napper tax breakers in your own districts. Nuff said!

Senate Journal 106 from Thursday [page 1,909] shows that the three data center bills - SB 616/617/618 - were rushed to the floor by Senator Kowall. Ostensibly a surprise to the Senators. Stamas and Colbeck were the excused absentees; Colbeck has tweeted that he was having surgery. Sen. Schmidt, who has been targeted for recall, voted for all three bills [page 1,910 et seq].

All three bills got immediate effect by voice vote despite the roll call votes all being 21 / 15 / 2 [page 1,910 et seq]. A 21 / 15 vote is 58.33% of those present in favor. Immediate effect requires 66.67% of those present according to Article IV, Section 27 of the 1963 Michigan Constitution. Clearly those opposed were only posturing, or the 41.67% would have delayed immediate effect by a point of order. Such a point of order would have been the preeminent tactic of a competent legislator who was genuinely opposed.

The Democrats made a lame protest [page 1,912]. The opposed Republicans were mute.

(10x25MM): "...Clearly those opposed were only posturing, or the 41.67% would have delayed immediate effect by a point of order. Such a point of order would have been the preeminent tactic of a competent legislator who was genuinely opposed.."

I wish that points such as the above would be debated more among those of us who care about the legislative process. The few times I witness a patriot dive in to the actual details of how are lives are shaped it not only often educates me but much more importantly gives me hope.

Our kids need hope right now and thank you 10x25MM for offering them it with your in-depth stories and analysis (as well as others).

...by the way, when the MEDC isn't busy rewriting the tax code for never-before-seen industries?...they're busy wasting your money with 'reality' in places such as this:
http://www.rzrforums.net/misc.php?do=postrelease&prx_t=Xd0BA3x0EA1uQLA

We are the ones (through the MEDC) paying for Ford's recruitment program (holograms or whatever)...not Ford.
I'm also (apparently) not the only one who seeks to (often) get their point across using 'old news'.